Reading the wrist

David Baldwin

Age: 78 Smart Watch: Fitbit Sense 2

Sometimes health management is less about what you feel and more about what you can see.

While sitting at home one afternoon, Baldwin felt a buzz on his wrist. His Apple Watch alerted him of a low heart rate.

David Baldwin explains his experience with receiving a notification on his Apple Watch about an abnormal heart rate. He says the buzz on his wrist and the red lettering on the screen helped him identify that there was an issue. VIDEO BY: BRENNEN FRENCH

Had the watch not notified him, doctors wouldn’t have caught his abnormal heart rate — he says he never had any symptoms.

Despite no imminent concern, doctors were surprised Baldwin hadn’t experienced common indicators of bradycardia – a condition resulting in a heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute.

After consulting his cardiologist, Baldwin was informed he’d need a pacemaker. Since then, doctors mainly use data from the implanted device, however he still relies heavily on his watch for health management.

Originally an owner of an Apple Watch, he recently switched to a Fitbit.

Although he changed manufacturers, Baldwin still struggles to navigate his Fitbit's interface. He purchased his watch in December and has yet to finish setting it up.

“I’ll have to sit down and work through it. I basically get what I need [out of it], but there wasn’t a lot of help.”

Baldwin says the interface is hard to see, often forcing him to put his glasses on or take the watch off altogether to get a better look.

Because the font size is so small, legibility is a concern.

Baldwin and his wife, Vivian, both have smart watches and use them to manage their health. Baldwin says his wife is the "tech-y" one, often helping him get set up and navigate different challenges. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: DAVID BALDWIN

David Baldwin says eyesight is an issue for him when interacting with his smart watch. Most smart watch interfaces are small, making it difficult for individuals who struggle to see to engage at full capacity. VIDEO BY: BRENNEN FRENCH

In 2019, researchers conducted a study to assess perceptions of older adults towards smartwatch technology, specifically the Samsung Gear 3. They found that “in general, the touchscreen interface on the smartwatch was difficult to operate by some older adults due to the small size of icons, as well as their decreased motor resolution and coordination.”

One Reddit user explains how they helped their father, who has Parkinson's, navigate his Apple Watch more effectively. @KristiColo explains how functions such as Siri help increase accessibility for her father, allowing the user to engage with the device without having to navigate the screen.

She writes, “maximizing font size and brightness was helpful. I also found a menu of touch accommodations, setting touch to hold helped with my dad accidentally calling people and such.”

In fact, a public Facebook group exists for Fitbit users to discuss health, fitness, technology and interface-related questions.

Several smartwatch devices do offer various accessibility features. Common ones include: talk back, screen magnification, bold text, increased font size and high-contrast display.

Features such as these may help enhance an older adult’s user experience but that doesn’t combat the effort and ability to learn how to do so.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter your age.

At the rate technology is advancing, it’s hard to keep up. With unique symbols and a lack of continuity across brands, it can be difficult to decipher their meaning and confidently adopt new technologies.

The following game allows you to try and match the main symbols on David's Fitbit interface to their purpose.

How to: Drag and drop the definitions to the respective icons. If they're a match, the pair will show a green background. Click the red icon above the definitions to play again.

Now that you've had a chance to try and navigate the icons, watch as Calgary Journal journalists Ava Free and Brennen French attempt to help Baldwin learn them for himself -- highlighting how the struggle surpasses demographic limitations.

David Baldwin purchased his Fitbit in December 2025 but hasn't set it up yet. He says his wife is the "tech-y" one, often helping him navigate the device. Upon purchase, he said there was little support for set up. VIDEO BY BRENNEN FRENCH

Free and French were both unsure of the icon's functions, particularly the screen-wake button. The pair mistakenly explained the icon to disable the buzzing sensation a user would feel in their wrist for an alert.

For more information on how to set up your Fitbit Sesnse 2 visit: Fitbit Sense 2 Setup (Step-by-Step with Chapters)

Despite no imminent concern, doctors were surprised Baldwin hadn’t experienced common indicators of bradycardia – a condition resulting in a heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute.

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